Mayors to get powers to overrule local councils on planning decisions

Key Points:

• Mayors in 13 English regions, including Manchester and Liverpool, will gain new powers to overrule local councils on planning decisions for large developments, similar to the existing "call-in" powers of London's mayor, Sadiq Khan.
• The new powers apply to proposals involving more than 150 homes, over 15,000 square metres of commercial space, or buildings exceeding 30 metres in height, aiming to accelerate housing delivery and regeneration.
• Housing minister Matthew Pennycook emphasized these powers as essential for meeting the government's ambitious target of building 1.5 million homes by 2030, despite concerns about the feasibility of this goal.
• Critics, including Conservative and Liberal Democrat politicians, argue the changes undermine local council authority and community involvement, potentially creating a "two-tier system" favoring mayoral areas over others.
• The government plans to allow mayors to grant "up-front permission" for development and increase their influence over housing funding, with a consultation on implementation expected soon.